We Requested Audio Execs to Blind Take a look at Headphones. The Outcomes Have been Stunning

“This is not a technical term, but if they feel the most boring,” defined Steph. “It’s not as clean as A (Sony) but also not as hyped as B (Soundcore), but that doesn’t make them Goldilocks, sounding not very wide, and a bit mid-range heavy.”

D: Bose QuietComfort Extremely (1st Gen)

These flagship headphones from the inventors of lively noise cancellation first launched in 2023, and have been a constant greatest vendor ever since, generally that includes on greatest headphones lists—together with our personal—and praised for his or her nice sound and industry-leading noise cancelling. They not too long ago obtained a variety of characteristic upgrades, like even higher noise cancellation, battery life enhancements and the addition of wired USB-C audio, however aside from a couple of refined tweaks, the general sound signature has remained the identical.

{Photograph}: Ryan Waniata

The outcomes right here had been a blended bag. Isabel discovered them, “very hyped in the bass, which loses lead vocal presence. And there’s some high-frequency hyping that’s not equating to detail, which feels like it’s masking for a poorer set of headphones.”

Ian, then again, was initially happy with the element, and will “hear the hi-hat clearly,” however he wasn’t satisfied they had been as sturdy on the high finish in comparison with C (Apple) or B (Soundcore). Nonetheless, he concluded they had been “much more balanced and better compared with A (Sony), especially in terms of the bass.”

PHOTOGRAPH: Harry Corridor

“The others just feel more expansive.” says Kintish. “These feel like everything is down the center. They’re lacking that wide field of sound, and it all feels very small, whereas others—specifically A, B, and C—had a bit more stereo feel to them.”

Curiously, Steph obtained the impression the Bose had “a phone filter, or EQ on them.” And admitted that, I am virtually undecided how I really feel about them. I do not dislike them as a lot as I did E (Nothing). However I might say there’s nothing thrilling about these both.”

E: Nothing Headphones (1)

Nothing’s first over-ear design, tuned in collaboration with KEF, options ANC, assist for high-resolution Bluetooth codec LDAC, and USB‑C lossless playback, plus an 80-hour battery, customized EQ and decidedly totally different seems to be. Evaluations have been vastly optimistic, together with our personal, with specific appreciation of their industrial design and feature-rich efficiency.

{Photograph}: Parker Corridor

{Photograph}: Parker Corridor

{Photograph}: Parker Corridor

“When I was a kid,” reminisced Steph, “I played with my parent’s radio player, and messed about with the graphic equalizer. These headphones remind me of that; some kid just playing with the EQ. What’s going to be exciting? I’m gonna turn this up. I’m gonna turn that up. They’re the most hyped of them all!”

Steph continues, “I wouldn’t choose these headphones, but I could see why a consumer would, because for certain songs, they’re really exciting. I can imagine a teenage version of me loving these.”